Dreaming of a pretty yard in California? It’ll cost you — more than other states
Dreaming of having a nice yard in California? It could cost an “eye-watering” amount, according to a new study.
And it will definitely cost you more than anywhere else in the country, according to Corston Architectural Detail. The interior design firm “analyzed thousands of Zillow listings nationwide to calculate the cost of yard space” per square foot, the firm said in a news release obtained by the Sacramento Bee.
And while the house itself usually gets most of the attention, “it turns out the yard can be just as pricey, if not more so in some states,” the firm said. To calculate this cost, the firm subtracted “interior square footage from lot size” to give “a per-square-foot price tag for the great outdoors.”
“Having your own patch of green is a dream for many homeowners across the U.S.,” the firm said. “A backyard isn’t just a space for barbecues and gardening. It’s where kids play, dogs roam, and people unwind. But in today’s market, that slice of outdoor heaven comes at a serious cost.”
California tops the list by a landslide. Here’s why:
Why are California yards so pricey?
“With a median yard price of $125.47 and an average of $338.08 per square foot, Californians are paying top dollar for their outdoor space,” the firm said. “With coastal real estate at a premium and backyards often doubling as entertainment zones in the sunny climate, this isn’t surprising. A few square feet of lawn in LA or the Bay Area could rival the price of indoor space elsewhere.”
Add in high landscaping costs to defend homes against wildfires and keeping any grasses or plants hydrated amid water shortages and regulations — and before you know it, you’ve reached astronomical maintenance costs.
The next most expensive state for homeowners to have a yard is Nevada, “and it’s not even close” to those California yard costs, according to the release.
“Despite the dry, desert landscape, homeowners are dishing out a median of $105.30 and average of $171.91 per square foot for a yard” in Nevada, the firm said. “The scarcity of green space and booming development in Las Vegas may help explain the high cost, even sand is pricey when it’s in your backyard.”
Colorado comes in at third place, “with a median of $91.56 and average of $146.64” — most likely because of the state’s “stunning mountain views and outdoor lifestyle culture” that drives up “demand for usable yard space,” per the release.
“Homeowners aren’t just buying lawn, they’re also buying lifestyle,” the firm said.
What are the most expensive states to have a yard?
1. California — Median yard price per square foot: $125.47. Average yard price per square foot: $338.08
2. Nevada — Median yard price per square foot: $105.30. Average yard price per square foot: $171.91
3. Colorado — Median yard price per square foot: $91.56. Average yard price per square foot: $146.64
4. Arizona — Median yard price per square foot: $85.33. Average yard price per square foot: $125.87
5. Hawaii — Median yard price per square foot: $79. Average yard price per square foot: $158.98
6. Utah — Median yard price per square foot: $74.25. Average yard price per square foot: $156.40
7. Rhode Island — Median yard price per square foot: $70.94. Average yard price per square foot: $118.13
8. Oregon — Median yard price per square foot: $67.54. Average yard price per square foot: $106.85
9. Washington — Median yard price per square foot: $66.74. Average yard price per square foot: $126.75
10. New Jersey — Median yard price per square foot: $56.12. Average yard price per square foot: $139.58
11. Idaho — Median yard price per square foot: $51.96. Average yard price per square foot: $63.39
12. Florida — Median yard price per square foot: $48. Average yard price per square foot: $75.12
13. Texas — Median yard price per square foot: $47.09. Average yard price per square foot: $80.45
14. Maryland — Median yard price per square foot: $46.31. Average yard price per square foot: $140.75
15. Massachusetts — Median yard price per square foot: $46.16. Average yard price per square foot: $118.42
16. Nebraska — Median yard price per square foot: $44.66. Average yard price per square foot: $47.91
17. Delaware — Median yard price per square foot: $44.40. Average yard price per square foot: $78.64
18. South Dakota — Median yard price per square foot: $42.69. Average yard price per square foot: $45.95
19. Illinois — Median yard price per square foot: $42.49. Average yard price per square foot: $137.90
20. Wyoming — Median yard price per square foot: $40.14. Average yard price per square foot: $49.90
21. Oklahoma — Median yard price per square foot: $38.52. Average yard price per square foot: $49.69
22. Minnesota — Median yard price per square foot: $38.13. Average yard price per square foot: $56.60
23. Pennsylvania — Median yard price per square foot: $38.13. Average yard price per square foot: $56.60
24. Virginia — Median yard price per square foot: $37.78. Average yard price per square foot: $76.03
25. New York — Median yard price per square foot: $35.42. Average yard price per square foot: $92.94
26. New Mexico — Median yard price per square foot: $35.12. Average yard price per square foot: $46.85
27. Montana — Median yard price per square foot: $33.40. Average yard price per square foot: $56.13
28. North Dakota — Median yard price per square foot: $32.71. Average yard price per square foot: $42.28
29. Kansas — Median yard price per square foot: $30.84. Average yard price per square foot: $39.79
30. South Carolina — Median yard price per square foot: $30.38. Average yard price per square foot: $58.07
31. Louisiana — Median yard price per square foot: $30.33. Average yard price per square foot: $155.87
32. Iowa — Median yard price per square foot: $30.12. Average yard price per square foot: $34.30
33. Wisconsin — Median yard price per square foot: $29.40. Average yard price per square foot: $36.66
34. Missouri — Median yard price per square foot: $27.93. Average yard price per square foot: $40.20
35. North Carolina — Median yard price per square foot: $27.74. Average yard price per square foot: $45.66
36. Michigan — Median yard price per square foot: $27.69. Average yard price per square foot: $41.65
37. Ohio — Median yard price per square foot: $26.28. Average yard price per square foot: $33.33
38. Indiana — Median yard price per square foot: $25.58. Average yard price per square foot: $34.48
39. Connecticut — Median yard price per square foot: $23.48. Average yard price per square foot: $35.57
40. Kentucky— Median yard price per square foot: $22.20. Average yard price per square foot: $34.71
41. Tennessee — Median yard price per square foot: $21.54. Average yard price per square foot: $30.11
42. Alabama — Median yard price per square foot: $20.78. Average yard price per square foot: $32.90
43. Arkansas — Median yard price per square foot: $20.12. Average yard price per square foot: $26.95
44. Georgia — Median yard price per square foot: $19.52. Average yard price per square foot: $35.80
45. New Hampshire — Median yard price per square foot: $19.19. Average yard price per square foot: $35.17
46. Alaska — Median yard price per square foot: $18.51. Average yard price per square foot: $36.23
47. Vermont— Median yard price per square foot: $17.69. Average yard price per square foot: $35.85
48. Maine— Median yard price per square foot: $15.12. Average yard price per square foot: $51.84
49. Mississippi— Median yard price per square foot: $14.40. Average yard price per square foot: $22.70
50. West Virginia — Median yard price per square foot: $13.46. Average yard price per square foot: $26.39
This story was originally published September 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
